Congressional elections

Congressional elections

Jim Lo Scalzo / European Pressphoto Agency

Control of Congress is once again up for grabs in 2014, with Republicans and Democrats vying to maintain their electoral victories and supplement them with additional seats. The GOP needs six seats to take the Senate majority away from Democrats, while Democrats must take 17 if they're going to regain control of the House. It's too early to say whether either party will achieve its aims, but, historically, the party holding the White House has typically performed poorly in its second round of midterm elections, prompting the phrase "six-year itch" to express voters' siding against the president's party. Above, from left, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).

Control of Congress is once again up for grabs in 2014, with Republicans and Democrats vying to maintain their electoral victories and supplement them with additional seats. The GOP needs six seats to take the Senate majority away from Democrats, while Democrats must take 17 if they're going to regain control of the House. It's too early to say whether either party will achieve its aims, but, historically, the party holding the White House has typically performed poorly in its second round of midterm elections, prompting the phrase "six-year itch" to express voters' siding against the president's party. Above, from left, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). (Jim Lo Scalzo / European Pressphoto Agency)

Control of Congress is once again up for grabs in 2014, with Republicans and Democrats vying to maintain their electoral victories and supplement them with additional seats. The GOP needs six seats to take the Senate majority away from Democrats, while Democrats must take 17 if they're going to regain control of the House. It's too early to say whether either party will achieve its aims, but, historically, the party holding the White House has typically performed poorly in its second round of midterm elections, prompting the phrase "six-year itch" to express voters' siding against the president's party. Above, from left, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).